Removable plug closure with pull loop



1965- P. A. LA GRUTTA 3,200,986

REMOVABLE PLUG CLOSURE WITH PULL LOOP Filed Aug. 19, 1964 I (/32 w 4 f9 3 In venizr'r United States Patent 3,200,986 REMOVABLE PLUG CLOSURE WETH PULL L901 Pascal A. La Grutta, Cedar Grove, Ni, assignor to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug.'19, 1964, Ser. No. 390,535 3 Claims. (Cl. Mil-60) This invention relates to plug type closures, and more particularly to a closure arrangement including a removable plug type closure having an integrally pull loop adapted to facilitate its removal.

The invention comprehends a two-piece end closure arrangement for a container, such as a cylindrical paperboard can, having an outer closure member permanently affixed to the end edge of a container and having a central opening adapted to removably receive a closure plug.

It is an object of this invention to provide, in a closure arrangement of the type described, a permanent closure member attached to a container and presenting central opening adapted to removably receive a plug type closure member.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved sealing arrangement between permanent and removable members of two-piece closure arrangement for a container.

Yet another object of the invention is a provision, in a closure arrangement of the type described, of a means for grasping a closure plug to facilitate its removal;

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a closure plug having a recessed central portion with an integrally formed pull loop disposed therein.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from an examination and drawings, wherein;

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a container having a closure arrangement embodying features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal, vertical section taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURES 4 and 5 are enlarged views of portions of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 3.

It will be understood that, for purposes of clarity, cer tain elements have been intentionally omitted from certain views where they are believed to be illustrated to better advantage in other views.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding ofthe invention, it will be seen that the novel twopiece closure arrangement, indicated generally at C, is shown in FIGURE 1 as applied to one end of the body B of a container. In this illustration the container is a cylindrical can formed of paperboard. However, the closure arrangement of the invention may also be applied to other types of containers.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, the closure arrangement of the invention is a two-piece unit, comprising a permanent closure member or retainer 19 which is permanently afiixed to the container and a removable closure member or plug indicated generally at 12.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, the outside periphery of the permanent member or retainer has an inwardly of the following description Patented Aug. 17, lfifiii turned or curled edge 14 which may be crimped over the related end edge 16 of the container body to form a permanent connection therebetween.

inasmuch as the permanent member or retainer 10 illustrated in the drawi gs is designed for a cylindrical container, it is annular in shape; however, the outer periphery can be rectangular in shape when used with a rectangular container.

Again referring to FIGURE 3 be seen that the retainer 10 presents a central circular opening 18 which is defined by an annular L-shaped flange 2%? located at the inside periphery of retainer 10.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, flange 20 is generally L- shaped in section and comprises an outer top wall 22, which presents a flat, annular, outwardly facing surface 24, and a cylindrical inside wall 26 formed integrally with and projecting inwardly from the inside periphery of outer wall 22. At its inner extremity inside wall 26 is flared slightly inwardly toward the axis of the closure to form a sealing lip 28.

Removably disposed within the central opening 18 of the retainer is the removable closure member or plug, indicated generally at 10.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, plug 10 includes a generally fiat, circular, inner wall 30 having an integrally formed cylindrical outside wall 32 projecting outwardly from the peripheral edge thereof to define with said inner wall a central well or recess 34.

As best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5, closure plug outside wall 32 has formed integrally with its outer edge an annular, peripheral shoulder 36, extending radially outward therefrom, which presents an inwardly facing, fiat, annular surface 38 adapted to seaton outwardly facing, fiat, annular surface 24 of retainer flange outer wall 22 when the closure plug is positioned within the central opening 18 of the retainer.

Spaced axially inward from shoulder 36 is an annular preferably V-shaped, locking bead 40 which presents a pair of upper and lower diverging, inclined surfaces 42 and 44, respectively. Bead 40 is spaced from shoulder 36 a distance approximately equal to the width of retainer flange wall 22 to form a peripheral channel 46 adapted to receive the inside wall of the retainer flange. The outer diameter of the plug in the area of channel 46 is slightly greater than the inner diameter of retainer flange lip 28, so that when the plug is in closed position within the central opening 18 the retainer sealing lip 28 will dig or bite into the plug cylindrical wall 32 in the groove to effect a fiuid tight seal between the retainer and plug. The outside diameter point, is appreciably greater than the inside diameter of the flange lip 28, so that it is necessary to force the lip over the head to move it into channel 46. Sloping surfaces 42 and 44 act as carnming surfaces to facilitate the insertion and removal of the plug from the flange opening 18.

In order to greatly facilitate the removal of the plug from the retaining member there has been provided a handle or pull loop, indicated generally at Slit, which is formed integrally with the outside wall of the plug and which is positioned within the plug recess or well 34.

As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 5 the pull loop comprises a relatively thin narrow plastic band 52 the ends 54 of which are formed integrally with the inside of plug outside wall 32.

of the drawing it will of locking head 40, at its widest Thus, in order to remove the plug once it has been placed in closed position, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, a finger may be inserted through the loop 50' and pressure applied to withdraw the plug from retainer opening 18. As this is done upper sloping cam surface 42 of the plug will accommodate the removal of the lip from the channel. In order to reinsert the plug, pressure is applied on the outside of the plug and in this case the lower sloping or camming surface 44 of the plug will permit the flange lip to ride up over the largest part of the retaining bead and then snap firmly into position as shown in FIGURE 4.

I claim:

1. A closure arrangement for one end of a cylindrical, paperboard can, comprising, in combination:

(a) an annular, metal closure ring having an outside peripheral edge permanently attached to an end edge of said can and having an inside peripheral flange, generally L-shaped in cross-section, defining a circular, central opening and including:

(i) an annular wall presenting a flat, outwardly facing surface;

(ii) a cylindrical wall projecting inwardly from the inside edge of said annular wall and having, at its free inner edge, an inwardly flared, peripheral lip extending into said opening;

(b) a flexible, plastic, circular, closure plug removably positoned within the opening of said closure ring and including:

(i) a generally fiat, circular wall;

(ii) a cylindrical wall projecting outwardly from the outside edge of said circular wall and defining therewith a cylindrical recess;

() said closure plug cylindrical wall having:

(i) an annular shoulder projecting laterally outward from its free edge and presenting a flat, inwardly facing surface adapted to seat on the outwardly facing surface of said closure ring annular wall;

(ii) an annular retaining bead spaced axially inward from said shoulder to define therebetween an annular channel for receiving said ring cylindrical wall;

(iii) said retaining ring cylindrical wall lip having an inside diameter slightly less than the outside diameter of said channel so that when the plug is positioned within the ring the lip wall dig into the ring cylindrical wall in said channel to effect a fluid tight seal therebetween;

(iv) said bead presenting an outwardly inclined surface adapted to facilitate entry of said ring lip into said plug channel;

(d) a relatively narrow, thin, flexible pull loop disposed in said plug recess and having its ends formed integrally with the cylindrical wall of said plug on one side of the center thereof spaced apart a distance substantially less than the diameter of the plug and curving between its ends throughout an angle substantially in excess of 180.

' 2. A closure arrangement for one end of a container, comprising, in combination:

(a) a permanent closure member having an outside peripheral edge rigidly attached to an end edge of said container and having an inside peripheral flange, generally L-shaped in cross-section, defining a circular, central opening and including:

(i) an annular wall presenting a flat, outwardly facing surface;

(ii) a cylindrical wall projecting inwardly from the inside edge of said annular wall and having, at its free inner edge, an inwardly flared, sealing lip extending into said opening;

(b) a removable closure member positioned within the opening of said permanent closure member and including:

(i) a generally flat, circular wall;

(ii) a cylindrical Wall projecting outwardly from the outside edge of said circular wall and de* fining therewith a generally cylindrical recess;

(0) said removable closure member cylindrical wall having:

(i) an annular shoulder projecting radically outwar-d from its free edge and presenting a flat, inwardly facing surface adapted to seat on the outwardly facing surface of said permanent closure member annular wall;

(ii) an annular retaining bead spaced axially in ward from said shoulder to define therewith an annular channel for receiving said flange cylindrical wall;

(iii) said permanent closure member cylindrical Wall lip having an inside diameter slightly less than the outside diameter of said channel, so that when the removable closure member is positioned Within the permanent closure member the lip will dig into the cylindrical wall in said channel to effect a fluid tight seal therebetween;

(iv) said bead presenting uniformly around the removable closure member a pair of diverging inclined surfaces adapted to facilitate entry an removal of said removable closure member;

(d) a relatively narrow, thin, flexible pull loop disposed in said removable member recess and having its ends formed integrally with the cylindrical wall of said plug on one side of the center thereof spaced apart a distance substantially less than the diameter of the plug.

3. A closure arrangement comprising, in combination:

(a) a retainer having an outside peripheral edge permanently attached to an end edge of said container and having an inside peripheral flange, generally L- shaped in cross-section, defining a circular, central opening and including:

(i) an annular outer wall presenting a flat, outwardly facing surface;

(ii) a cylindrical inside wall projecting inwardly from the inside edge of said outer wall and having, at its free inner edge, an inwardly flared, peripheral lip extending into said opening,

(b) a circular plug removably positioned within the opening of said retainer and including:

(i) a generally flat, circular, inner wall;

(ii) a cylindrical outside wall projecting outwardly from the outside edge of said inner wall and defining therewith a cylindrical recess;

(c) said plug outside wall having:

(i) an annular shoulder projecting radially outward from its free edge and presenting a flat, inwardly facing surface adapted to seat on the outwardly facing surface of said retainer flange outer Wall;

(ii) an annular retaining bead spaced axially inward from said shoulder to define therebetween an annular channel for receiving said retainer flange inside wall;

(iii) said retainer flange lip having an inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of said channel so that when the plug is positioned Within the retainer the lip will dig into the plug outside wall in said channel to effect a fluid tight seal between the retainer and plug;

(iv) said bead presenting uniformly around the plug a pair of diverging surfaces adapted to facilitate entry into and removal of said plug;

' (d) a relatively narrow, t-hin, flexible .pull loop disposed for one end of a container,

5 6 in said plug recess and having its ends formed in- 3,042,271 7/62 Winstead. tegrally With the outside wall of said plug, 3,119,541 1/64 Lynn.

FOREIGN PATENTS References Cited by the Examiner 803,154 11/56 Great Britain.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,895,654 7/59 Rieke. THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CLOSURE ARRANGEMENT FOR ONE END OF A CYLINDRICAL, PAPERBOARD CAN, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) AN ANNULAR, METAL CLOSURE RING HAVING AN OUTSIEE PERIPHERAL EDGE PERMANENTLY ATTACHED TO AN END EDGE OF SAID CAN AND HAVING AN INSIDE PERIPHERAL FLANGE, GENERALLY L-SHAPED IN CROSS-SECTION, DEFINING A CIRCULAR, CENTRAL OPENING AND INCLUDING: (I) AN ANNULAR WALL PRESENTING A FLAT, OUTWARDLY FACING SURFACE; (II) A CYLINDRICAL WALL PROJECTING INWARDLY FROM THE INSIDE EDGE OF SAID ANNULAR WALL AND AHVING, AT ITS FREE INNER EDGE, AN INWARDLY FLARED, PERIPHERAL LIP EXTENDING INTO SAID OPENING; (B) A FLEXIBLE, PLASTIC, CIRCULAR, CLOSURE PLUG REMOVABLY POSITIONED WITHIN THE OPENING OF SAID CLOSURE RING AND INCLUDING: (I) A GENERALLY FLAT, CIRCULAR WALL; (II) A CYLINDRICAL WALL PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF SAID CIRCULAR WALL AND DEFINING THEREWITH A CYLINDRICAL RECESS; (C) SAID CLOSURE PLUG CYLINDRICAL WALL HAVING: (I) AN ANNULAR SHOULDER PROJECTING LATERALLY OUTWARD FROM ITS FREE EDGE AND PRESENTING A FLAT, INWARDLY FACING SURFACE ADAPTED TO SEAT ON THE OUTWARDLY FACING SURFACE OF SAID CLOSURE RING ANNULAR WALL; (II) AN ANNULAR RETAINING BEAD SPACED AXIALLY INWARD FROM SAID SHOULDER TO DEFINE THEREBETWEEN AN ANNULAR CHANNEL FOR RECEIVING SAID RING CYLINDRICAL WALL; (III) SAID RETAINING RING CYLINDRICAL WALL LIP HAVING AN INSIDE DIAMETER SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF SAID CHANNEL SO THAT WHEN THE PLUG IS POSITIONED WITHIN THE RING THE LIP WALL DIG INTO THE RING CYLINDRICAL WALL IN SAID CHANNEL TO EFFECT A FLUID TIGHT SEAL THEREBETWEEN; (IV) SAID BEAD PRESENTING AN OUTWARDLY INCLINED SURFACE ADAPTED TO FACILITATE ENTRY OF SAID RING LIP INTO SAID PLUG CHANNELF (D) A RELATIVELY NARROW, THIN, FLEXIBLE PULL LOOP DISPOSED IN SAID PLUG RECESS AND HAVING ITS ENDS FORMED INTEGRALLY WITH THE CYLINDRICAL WALL OF SAID PLUG ON ONE SIDE OF THE CENTER THEREOF SPACED APART A DISTANCE SUBTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE PLUG AND CURVING BETWEEN ITS ENDS THROUGHOUT AN ANGLE SUBSTANTIALLY IN EXCESS OF 180*. 